USC Women’s Basketball Triumphs Over Iowa
In an impressive display, the University of Southern California (USC) women’s basketball team triumphed over No. 8 Iowa with a score of 81-69 on Thursday night, thereby ending Iowa’s formidable eight-game winning streak and marking their first loss in Big Ten competition this season.
Key Performers
Kara Dunn spearheaded USC’s performance, contributing significantly with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists. Supporting her efforts were Jazzy Davidson, who scored 21 points and delivered eight assists, alongside Londynn Jones, who added 17 points. This victory represents only the Trojans’ fourth win against ranked opponents out of eight opportunities this season, a notable turnaround after suffering two consecutive defeats and winning only once in their preceding seven games.
Iowa’s Performance
Iowa, now holding a record of 18-3 and 9-1 in the Big Ten, saw Journey Houston come off the bench to score 16 points and secure eight rebounds. The Hawkeyes, who had not lost since December 20 against the No. 1 ranked UConn, never held a lead during the game.
Game Highlights
USC built a commanding 18-point lead by the second quarter, but Iowa’s Taylor Stremlow managed to narrow the score to 43-37 at halftime with back-to-back three-pointers. The Trojans dominated the opening quarter, finishing it with a powerful 28-13 lead, highlighted by a 16-3 scoring run—Dunn alone contributed nine points to this stretch.
Although Iowa briefly crawled back to within three points early in the third quarter following a layup by Houston, the Trojans responded with an impressive 18-2 run, extending their lead to 70-51 by the time the third quarter concluded. This was propelled by a stellar performance from Jones and Kennedy Smith, who collectively scored numerous points including two three-pointers from Jones.
In the fourth quarter, Davidson initiated the scoring with a three-pointer that pushed USC’s lead to as much as 22 points. Sadly, the Trojans experienced a setback when starting forward Vivian Iwuchukwu sustained an injury—helping her off the court after she struggled to bear weight on her leg.
Looking Ahead
On the Iowa side, freshman Addie Deal from Irvine, California, made her debut start, although she did not register any points during her 17-minute play, finishing with three rebounds and three turnovers. Looking ahead, Iowa will prepare to face the No. 2 UCLA on Sunday, while USC gears up to host Rutgers on the same day.
